NSW cop 'had top punter in betting ring'

A NSW policeman who is being investigated for running an online gambling ring says he knew he had one of Australia's most infamous gamblers in his operation.

The state's Police Integrity Commission (PIC) is examining the conduct of Senior Constable Marc James Smith, from the Tactical Operations Unit, and Detective Senior Constable Anthony Paul Williams, from the Homicide Squad.

The PIC heard the officers recruited past and present police officers to provide their personal information to open online betting accounts between May 2012 and March 2013.

The pair also used professional gamblers Darren Azzopardi and Stephen Fletcher, who were banned from many of the sites.

Mr Fletcher, who has been described as one of Australia's top professional punters, is famous for a greyhound sting in 2005 and has previously been investigated about allegations he received inside information.

Bookmakers said Mr Fletcher punted about $1 million a week, according to a 2011 News Corp report.

Mr Smith said he knew the stories about Mr Fletcher being investigated and his role in the greyhound sting.